Harper slams Cubs in ninth for sweep
PHILADELPHIA >> Bryce Harper blasted a grand slam with one out in the ninth inning, capping a sixrun rally that sent the Philadelphia Phillies over the Chicago Cubs 7-5 Thursday night for a three-game sweep.
Harper delivered his biggest hit yet in his first sea- son with the Phillies, celebrating while running around the bases and then getting mobbed by teammates at the plate.
Cubs starter Yu Darvish struck out 10, silencing Philadelphia’s bats for seven innings a night after the Phillies scored 11 runs in former manager Charlie Manuel’s debut as hitting coach.
But the Phillies rallied against Chicago’s bullpen and moved within one game of the Cubs for the second wild-card spot in the NL.
Pinch-hitter Brad Miller chased Rowan Wick with an RBI single in the ninth that cut it to 5-2 and Roman Quinn greeted Pedro Strop with an RBI single to make it a two-run game. Strop (25) hit Rhys Hoskins to load the bases with one out.
Derek Holland entered to face Harper and got ahead
0-2 in the count. Harper fouled off a 2-2 pitch before launching his 25th homer way out to right.
Ranger Suarez (4-1) tossed two scoreless innings to earn the win.
Anthony Rizzo, batting leadoff after the original lineup had him in his usual cleanup spot, gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead in the third when he hit his 22nd homer.
Ian Happ led off the fourth with a triple and scored on David Bote’s double. Albert Almora Jr. hit an RBI single with two outs, went to second on the throw home and advanced to third on shortstop Jean Segura’s fielding error. Rizzo’s single made it 4-0.
Kyle Schwarber slammed his 100th career homer and team-high 28th this season into the bushes in center field to put the Cubs ahead 5-0 in the fifth.
Corey Dickerson hit an RBI single with two outs in the eighth off Wick, but right fielder Nicholas Castellanos threw out Hoskins trying to score from second on the play to end the inning.
SMYLY STRUGGLES
Phillies starter Drew Smyly gave up five runs in five innings. He has an 8.04 ERA in his last three starts after allowing one run in 13 innings in his first two starts for the team.
ROSTER MOVE
The Phillies claimed righty Jared Hughes off waivers from the Reds. Hughes will join the bullpen this weekend. He was 3-4 with one save and a 4.10 ERA for Cincinnati.
TRAINER’S ROOM
CUBS >>: Shortstop Javier Baez was scratched from the lineup because of an illness . ... RHP Craig Kimbrel (right knee inflammation) felt fine after another bullpen session and is closer to returning . ... RHP Brandon Kintzler (right pectoral inflammation) is expected to return on Friday . ... OF Jason Heyward (left knee inflammation) wasn’t in the lineup for the second straight game but entered the game in the ninth as a defensive replacement.
PHILLIES >> RHP Edubray Ramos (shoulder) was moved to the 60-day injury list to make room on the 40man roster for Hughes.
UP NEXT
CUBS >> RHP Kyle Hendricks (8-9, 4.38 ERA) faces the Pirates in the start of a three game series that will conclude a 10-game road trip. PHILLIES >> RHP Vince Velasquez (4-7, 4.30 ERA) starts the opener of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.